A Yugi/Yami story
Through a Dragon's Eye
Chapter 7-Fallen Ill
After the boys had their dinner and washed up, the sun had almost gone by this point. They both got into bed, and enjoyed a soft bed for once.
"So," said Yugi. "We leave first thing tomorrow?"
"After we have breakfast and go to the market. And then we start heading north."
"Good. I wonder how much longer it'll be now," Yugi said more to himself than to Yami.
"I've been wondering that for a while, but if this keeps up then it shouldn't be too much longer until we get to the northern shores."
"That's good," said Yugi. "To tell you the truth… I was starting to get a little tired of just wandering around in the middle of nowhere." Suddenly Yugi started to cough.
Yami sat up, "You ok?" he asked concerned.
Yugi couldn't answer; he just kept on coughing up a storm. Yami had to get up and get him a cup of water. After a minute Yugi was able to stop coughing and was able to lay down; his face started looking a little red. Yami put his hand over Yugi's forehead, "You have a fever."
Yugi shook his head, "No, I'm alright. I just need to sleep that's all. I'll be fine in the morning; you'll see."
Yami didn't believe him but he didn't want to argue if he didn't feel well. He let it go and stayed awake until he was positive that Yugi had fallen asleep. He took out the old blanket and covered Yugi with it… hoping that Yugi was right and that he would recover by morning.
In fact he was so worried that he stayed up almost the whole night watching over him.
Yugi didn't have a good night either.
He was dreaming of the last time he saw his parents…
He was watching his mother tending to their little vegetable garden in the back; she was showing him how to tell when the vegetables were ripe enough to be picked.
(Cough, cough)
"Mommy," said Yugi worriedly. "Are you ok?" his mother started to cough very violently.
His mother nodded. "I'm fine Yugi," she said. "I just need to rest now. Why don't you go and find your father?"
Yugi nodded as he stood up and went off into the village to see where hi s father had gone. He wandered around the village for a few hours and couldn't find him; in fact he couldn't find anyone. Everyone was locked inside their houses, and from what Yugi knew, they were all sick.
When he knew that his father wasn't in the village he decided to head home, the thought that his father had returned home while he was gone. As he made his way home… he could feel a kind of chill in the air. Yugi couldn't understand why… it was a very warm night… and yet he could feel shivers going down his spine. He had an uneasy feeling that he couldn't shake off.
He didn't know why… but he knew that he had to get home. He then took off running towards the running towards the house. He was afraid… for what? He didn't know. He just knew without the shadow of a doubt that he had to get home to find his mother and father.
When he finally got home he looked around. His mother wasn't kneeling at the garden where he last saw her and still no sign of his father.
He walked slowly up to the front door… "Mommy?" he said quietly. "Daddy? Are you there?"
No answer. Nobody answered him… he felt hot… and then cold. And a terrible ache in his heart… as though something was squeezing it very tightly. "Mommy? Daddy?" he called out a little louder.
Still he got no answer. Finally he couldn't take it anymore and very slowly walked into his house. And what he saw would haunt him until his own dying day. Both his mother and father were lying on the floor… eyes opened… mouths agape. A disgusting, rotting smell was starting to emanate from their bodies… the plague had taken away his family.
Yugi stood there completely frozen in horror… and he then let out a terrible scream. A scream that echoed with his fear … his sorrow… his pain, a scream that not even he could imagine how horrible it could be; while he was screaming… someone was shaking him.
Someone was calling his name… telling him to wake up.
Yami couldn't sleep knowing that Yugi was sick. He was so worried about him that he just couldn't seem to close his eyes. He sat up and watched him through the night… although once the sun had begun to rise; Yami could feel his eyelids droop.
He didn't even notice that he started to doze off; although he woke up with a start as soon as he heard the screaming.
He fell right out of his seat and leapt up as though he was given an electric shock. Yugi was screaming in his sleep as though he was being tortured. He was tossing in his sleep, and screaming such a terrible scream that it frightened Yami.
Before Yugi could wake up the whole village, Yami had grabbed a hold on him and started to shake him. "YUGI! YUGI WAKE UP! IT'S A DREAM! YOU HAVE TO WAKE UP YUGI!"
Yugi's eyes snapped open. His screaming died down almost instantly. He sat up, drenched in sweat… gasping for breath as though he had just run a marathon. He was scared… really scared. When Yami, very carefully and gently touched Yugi's shoulder, Yugi jumped away and stared at Yami as though he didn't recognize him.
When Yugi looked at Yami what he saw… scared him almost as much as the dream had. Yami was ghostly pale, and looked as though he had the nightmare instead of Yugi. Yami was scared. Yugi never thought that was possible. At first he couldn't understand why he looked that way… until it hit him like a bolt from the blue. Yugi had scared him… made him worry.
"Yugi, are you ok?" asked Yami in a petrified tone. Yami wouldn't be surprised if Yugi had woken every person in the village.
Yugi couldn't speak, he just nodded. "It was a… just a… a nightmare." He then reached over and held onto Yami as though he was a lifeline. He buried his face against Yami's chest and let the tears that he had been holding back since that day.
Tears fell down as Yami held him against his chest and gave him words of comfort. Even as people came bursting through the door demanding to know what the screaming was all about. Yugi didn't even bother to hear what Yami was telling them, though he sure sounded angry at them.
After awhile Yugi's crying had turned to sobbing, this soon turned to weeping, and then finally deep gasping. Yugi's head felt like it was about to explode and he just leaned against Yami as his eyelids drooped and he fell back into a deep slumber.
Yami held him there for a long time, just letting Yugi sleep off this sickness. He could feel that Yugi was burning up. So he just held him and let him sleep… for as long as he wanted.
(Later)
Yugi slept on and on… for the rest of the day in fact. His fever was getting worse and he just seemed so tense… even when he slept… Yami could feel him shaking.
Whatever Yugi's dream was about… it really did a number on Yugi. Not just Yugi though, Yami also. He was so worried about Yugi, but what really kills him is that he doesn't know how to help him. He wasn't good at stuff like this, and Yugi's condition was starting to get worst, and the worst part is that they couldn't stay here anymore.
The other guest and the innkeeper all came barging in demanding to know what the screaming was all about. Yami told him that his younger brother was having nightmares, but when they wouldn't leave, he told them off. The innkeeper then demanded that she meet their parents when they come to pick them up.
Of course, they had to get out as soon as they can, they can't stay here anymore. He then packed everything and anything into their bags and tied them over his shoulders. Then with a great effort he was able to pull Yugi onto his back.
Yugi was so small, thin, and light that it wasn't too much trouble for Yami to pick him up. Though he didn't know for how long.
But he had a plan… he knew that there was someone who lived around these parts who might be able to help them. She was the daughter of an old friend of his father's and she was gifted in the art of healing. So if there was anyone out there who would be willing to help… it was her. The problem was he had to get Yugi to her.
So he was able to get him and Yugi through the small window, and down to the ground, with a great deal of difficultly. Yugi was still out cold, but his fever was getting hotter and hotter. He was sick, really sick.
Yami had to get Yugi there as soon as possible. He walked a little ways away before, a stroke of luck; he saw a wagon leaving the village. He ran behind the cart and was able to sneak aboard without the young driver noticing anything. In the wagon were barrels full of wheat and grains so it was easy for two small boys to hide in.
The wagon was heading north, to where they might find the doctor that they were looking for. Yami just looked at Yugi's face with sadness and covered him with the blanket… and continued to watch over him. Hoping that Yugi would get better as soon as possible.
(Much, much later when they finally reached up north)
Yami must have finally fallen asleep because the next thing that he knew was that it was very late and very dark. He sat up and looked around, his eyes getting use to the sudden darkness. Yugi was still fast asleep, right beside him; the only problem was… he didn't get any better…
… he had gotten even worse.
He looked around him in a panic, hoping against hope that he would recognize where they were and where her home is… and to his relief he did.
They were only a couple miles west from where she lived, however they were started to head in the opposite direction. So Yami grabbed ahold of Yugi and their bags and jumped, more like fall, off the wagon. After a few minutes of struggling; Yami was able to get back to his feet and walked a few feet away before he realized that he couldn't carry Yugi and their bags the whole way to her house.
He very gently laid Yugi down and looked around in the surround darkness, when he spotted the perfect place. At the base of an old, widow tree was a deep hole, so he stashed their supplies down there for now. He would come back for them later. However he kept the blanket. He then placed the blanket over Yugi and then was able to get him over his shoulders.
So he walked all the way, carrying Yugi piggy-back. The night was cold, and Yami was sure that this cold air would not do Yugi any good. He had to hurry. He then hastened his pace.
Stars glimmered in the distance of the dark sky and a full moon's rays casting shadows upon them as Yami continued walking. Walking down a lonely, path through a dense wood with tree branches every which way and an stillness in the air that felt as though it was closing in on him. The trees stand tall their leaves and branches unmoving. As a cold wind sudden came over them, Yugi coughed.
Yami stopped dead. "Yugi?" he asked. "Are you ok?" Yugi didn't answer. Yami didn't expect him too. "You, if you can hear me… then please hold on. I know someone who isn't too far away from here and she can help you. Just keep fighting back till we get there."
Thoughts ... Memories... Creating a hazy scene of silence was coming into Yami's mind. He himself lost his family once and he wasn't going to lose it again. He set off again, it was so lucky that he knew where to go..
Finally, after what seemed like forever the night sky was fading away to dawn. Here Yami could see exactly where he was now. He was so close… he had to keep going. But he couldn't.
He collapsed. He was so tired he was unable to move any farther. He lay there for a while trying hard not to pass out; trying to get back onto his feet. He had to keep going. He couldn't give up now… not when they were so close… footsteps…
Yami heard the soft patter of footsteps right in front of them. He raised his head and tried to see where they were coming from… then he saw her.
It was a teenage girl, around 13 or 14, with long, black hair. She had a long, cream colored dress, and a beautiful caramel skin. She was carrying a bucket of water with her and was making her way towards them.
"HELP US, PLEASE!" cried Yami.
His voice startled the girl, who dropped her bucket. As water splashed everywhere she took a few steps back. "Who's there?" she cried out. She squinted her eyes to see who had called her and spotted Yami laying there in the middle of the pathway. Her jaw dropped, as she stared at him in amazement.
"It's me, Ishizu," called Yami. "Please I need your help. My friend needs your help."
(After they got to Ishizu's house, Yami had explained everything that had happened the day before, and she started to treat Yugi.)
(You see Ishizu is a healer and she was the only person that Yami could turn to at a time like this)
Yami was asleep at her table for a while, as she took Yugi into a spare room in the house. After he woke up he went outside..
Her house is a small, two floor cottage in the middle of a thick wood… not too far away where Yami's home village was. There were flowers and herbs growing all around the area, and you could smell the sweet, bitter, spicy smells all in the air.
(Think of snow white and the 7 dwarfs' cottage and you got her home almost.)
He stood out there for most of the day… while Ishizu looked after Yugi. He felt so helpless here. Yugi was sick and he had no idea what to do, or how to look after him… it was torture to him.
"Yami?!" called Ishizu's voice from the house. He turned to look and saw her waving him over to her. He ran over to her and the first words out of his mouth were, "How's Yugi? Is he going to be ok?"
She smiled gently and said, "I think so. By the time you got here, the cold he had developed into ammonia. A few more hours and I don't know what would have happened. But I think that he'll make a full recover after a few days of rest."
Relief, pure, relief swept over Yami when he heard that Yugi was going to be alright; he didn't know what he would have done if something would have happened to Yugi.
Ishizu looked at him with a strange look in her eyes. "What have you been up to since you ran away?"
Yami looked away at first, he didn't want to tell her, but she helped them… so
(He told her everything that had happened since he ran off in the middle of the night over a year ago. When he met Yugi, what they've been up too, and what they were going to do.)
She listened very carefully to his story. She never once interrupted him, just letting him go on.
When he was done, she stared at him as though this was the first time she ever saw him clearly. "I can see that you've change a great deal since the last time I saw you."
"A lot can happen in just a year," he replied. He waited for her to say something, when she didn't he asked her if he could see Yugi. She just smiled and led him over to the spare bedroom at the far end of the cottage.
She very quietly opened the door and told him, "Now, be quiet. He needs his rest." They stepped into the room. Yugi was fast asleep in a very small bed, fit for one, with a wet, cold rag over his forehead.
Yami walked over to the bed to get a better look at his face. His breath became raspy as he looked at the Yugi's pale face on the pillow. His breathing was coming out short. Yami knelt down at the right side of the bed and gently lifted Yugi's hand to his cheek and ran his fingers through his hair.
He could feel Ishizu looking at him. "Amazing."
Yami looked back at her. "What is?"
She smiled at him again and said, "Its just that… I don't think I've ever seen you care about someone as much as you care about him. Not only that, but the two of you… you could be twins."
Yami smiled at that remark. He heard that one a lot.
"Yami," Ishizu started to ask him softly, "Why haven't you told him?"
Yami raised an eyebrow a little bit in surprise. "Told him what?"
She smiled at bit at him then gave him a confused look. "Why haven't you told him? Why you ran away in the first place?"
He went very white, and looked at her with a startled as she said to him, "I think that he deserves to know the truth."
Yami didn't answer as he slowly looked away from her. "I just don't know when the time would be right to tell him." he said almost whispering… more to himself than her.
"When will you?" she asked quietly. "Someday you have to tell him the reason why you ran away from home."
Yami didn't say anything, but he couldn't look back at her either. He waited until Ishizu's turned towards the door. "When your friend is recovered… will you tell him the truth? Can you at least do that?"
Yami nodded, still refusing to look at her and waited until he was sure that she had left. Once she was gone, Yami sighed and lean against the bed looking at Yugi's face. He just doesn't know when to tell him; the real problem was that he was afraid of what Yugi would think of him if he was to tell him the truth. He just sat there holding Yugi's hand all night… waiting for his sweet, innocent, amethyst eyes to open.